The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-05-14

be carried away, and in the morning
she would find her W restored and in
health"
Another famous wishing well was
that known as the "Lucky Well OF
Beathag," in Argyllshire. which had
the reputation of commanding the
winds. One acquainted. adds Mr..
Fraser. with the spot thus describes it:
ut is situated at the foot of a hill
fronting the northeast, neal an isthmus
called Tarbat. Six feet above where
the water gushes out, there Is q heap
OF stones, which forms a cover TO the
sacred fount. When a person wished
for II fair wind, either to leave the
island or bring home his absent friends.
this part was opened with great
solemnity, the stones carefully re-
moved, and the well cleaned with a
wooden dish or a clam-shell. This
being done, the water was several times
thrown in the direction from which the
wished-for wind was to blow, and this
action accompanied with 8 certain
form OF words, which the person re-
peated every time he threw the water.
When the ceremony was over, the well
was again carefully shut up, to pre-
vent fatal consequences, it being
firmly believed that were the place left
open, it would occasion a storm which
would overwhelm the whole island"
But leaving Scotland with its numer.
ous wishing wells, we may note that
amongst the remains of Walsingham,
Norfolk, are the famous ''wishing
wells the water of which formerly
had the reputation Of curing disorders
OF the head and stomach. This prop
erty, however, has been replaced by
another of a more comprehensive
characteristic power of accomplish
ing all human wishes. In order to at
tain this desirable end. writes Mr..
Clyde in the Norfolk Garland, 'the
votary, with a due qualification of faith
and pious awe, must apply the right
knee bare to 4 stone placed for that
purpose between the wells. He must
then plunge to the wrist each hand,
bare also. into the water of the wells,
which are neal enough to admit of the
immersion. A wish must then be
formed, but not uttered with the lips,
either at the time u afterwards, even
in confidential communication to the
dearest friend. The hands are then
to be withdrawn, and as much of
the water as can be obtained
in the hollow of each is to be
swallowed. This silent wish will
be accomplished within the follow
ing twelve months" In Moore's
"Monastic Remains too. the author,
speaking C-7of Walsingham Chapel,
writes: 1.-The wishing wells still re-
main-twO circular stone pits filled
with water, inclosed with n square
wall. where the pilgrims used to kneel
and throw in n piece of gold, whilst
they prayed for the accomplishment OF
their Wishes
Wales, again, has its wishing wells;
and Pennant tells lis how, in days gone
by, a bathing well at Whitford received
many a kiss from the faithful, who
were supposed never to fail in expert.
encing the completion of their desires,
provided the wish was delivered with
full devotion and confidence. OF great
celebrity, too, was St. Dwynwen's
well, in the parish of Llandwyn,
Anglesey. This saint being the patron
saint Of lovers, her well possessed the
property Of curing love-sickness; hence,
it was visited by numbers Of both sexes
anxious to know their lot in the mar.
ried state; and wen at the present day.
writes Mr.. Writ Skies, in his British
Goblins,' it is f%requented by young
women of that part of the country
when suffering from the woes of love.
Indeed, although the well itself has for
many years been covered over with the
sand, the faithful still display their de-
votion by seeking their cure from ''the
water next to the WE'LL
Similarly, also, We might allude to
the wishing wells of Ireland. a refer
erencc to which occurs in The Irish
Hudibras Q6S9). where the visits of the
credulous to such localities are de.
scribed:
Have you beheld, when people pray
AT st. Johns Well on Patron-day,
BY charm Of priest and miracle,
To cure diseases at this well,
The valleys filled with blind and lame,
And go as limping as they came.
Space, however, forbids MS to give
further illustration of this widespread
species of superstition; but those we
have quoted will suffice to show how
largely the village well has from the
earliest times, been credited with SUI
pernatural powers. The survival, too,
of the belief attached to these so-oalled